The Healing of Saint Thomas

The Healing of Saint Thomas
April 24, 2022

It’s piercing that Thomas lacked faith to believe in the resurrection. He was an apostle. He saw Jesus heal people, raise people from the dead, cast out demons and multiply food. He was with Jesus when Jesus taught in parables and was a part of the select group of people that Jesus explained His parables to. He lived with Jesus for three years. He received the gift of the Eucharist at the last supper. He heard Jesus prophesy about His death and resurrection. He was told the good news of the resurrection from his brother disciples. If anyone should have believed the testimony of the disciples about the resurrection, shouldn’t Thomas have?

Thomas does not cry out a prayer to God or ask his friends to intercede for him so he may believe. He is obstinate, resistant, and closed off. He makes a demand in his despair, defiance and disbelief saying, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

How did this close friend of Jesus, once so filled with faith and trust, become like this? Is it that he was traumatized from his experience of the cross? Did the most evil event in history, man killing God, disillusion him? Is he questioning if he should walk away and be done with Jesus?

And, how easy is it for this to happen. When people leave the Church, there is a reason why. It is not uncommon for that reason to be one of misunderstanding, pain, and suffering. We all struggle with our experiences of the cross and experiences of evil. Even Jesus fell three times on His way to Cavalry and needed the help of Simon of Cyrene to finish the way.

Were others who had followed Jesus with Thomas upset, disappointed or angry at him for his lack of faith? Do they blame themselves for his lack of faith? Do they judge him for his weakness and wonder, does he not know better? When is he going to get over this and believe?

But it is precisely in Thomas’ weakness and woundedness that Jesus meets him with His weakness and woundedness. No judgment, no condemnation, no frustration, no shaming; just love, gentleness, mercy and understanding. Jesus comes eager to give Thomas the gift of peace. Jesus walks through the walls of Thomas’ heart to heal his wounded faith. He understands Thomas’ pain. What was Christ’s cause of suffering, is now a cause of consolation and hope. Christ, with His wounds exposed, invites Thomas to touch them. Faith flows through Christ’s resurrected wounds and Thomas is filled. Christ’s wounds are now a wellspring of healing and Thomas is made new. Saint Thomas proclaims, “My Lord and My God” (Jn 20:29).

Saint Thomas went on to be a great evangelist for our Church bringing many souls to Christ. According to tradition, after Saint Thomas was anointed by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, he evangelized India, fulfilling the great commission given to us to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

May Saint Thomas be a cause of encouragement for us! Christ’s master key, that unlocks His entrance into all human misery and mess, is His resurrected wounds. Christ’s resurrected presence to us is the Way to our wanderings, the Truth to our lies, the Life to our death from sin, the Light to our darkness, the Prince of Peace to our anxieties, the Lion of Judah to our fears, the Healer to our hurts, the Deliverer to our oppression, the Savior to our sinfulness, and the Lord to our whole lives. By the power of God’s grace, may we continue to receive the healing graces Jesus has for us as we celebrate His resurrection; may we persevere in hoping and praying for the healing and conversion of our family, friends, and enemies. Saint Thomas, pray for us! Amen.

—Megan Healy | Director of Faith Formation